Organisers have explained the change, saying it was nothing to do with the warmer temperatures which greeted last Sunday’s run.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Nova International which organises the world famous sporting occasion, said: “There is no set date for the event - the date of the event regularly varies based on a number of factors.”

The spokesperson said these included consultation with a number of partners like the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and where it sits within its calendar of races.

And the BBC is consulted also, to check which sporting fixtures it may be covering.

The spokesperson added: “The date for the 2015 event was decided around six months ago.”

This year's run, on September 7, was the earliest the race has been run since 1989 - when the Great North Run was held in June.

In recent times the Run's date has hovered around the third Sunday in September, with 2013 being on September 15, 2012 on September 16, 2011 on September 18 and 2010 on September 19.

However, in 2008 it took place on October 5, following a September 30 race in 2007 and an October 1 race in 2006. The latest it has taken place was in 2000, when thousands took to the streets on October 22.

Of course that the run is an autumn race at all is only true since 1990, as prior to that eight of the nine races had been in June, with 1985's June 7 outing the earliest.